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Property You Can Include In A Will

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By including specific assets in a Will and naming beneficiaries (the people who will inherit those assets) you can make sure that your property is passed along exactly how you want, and you can help your family avoid disagreements over the distribution of your assets.

Reasons To Include Property In A Will

By including specific property in your Will, you can make sure that your property is given to the people you want in the way you want. Including property in your Will can also help your family avoid disagreements and stress over deciding who should get what, since you will have decided this for them.

Types Of Property And Assets To Include In A Will

Intangible personal property, such as stocks, bonds, and other forms of business ownership, as well as intellectual property, royalties, patents, and copyrights, etc.

Unproductive property, such as valuable objects like cars, artwork, jewelry, and furniture, etc.

You may also include your “residuary estate” in a Will, which refers to any assets that are not specifically left to anyone. You can designate a “residuary beneficiary” who will inherit the remaining assets that are not left to other named beneficiaries.

Taking Inventory Of Your Assets

Making a list of all valuable assets helps you ensure that you’re not accidentally leaving any significant property out of your Will.

If you have significant property or assets, or particularly elaborate investments or financial arrangements, determining the best way to distribute those assets may be complicated. An attorney can review your assets with you to determine the most tax-efficient way to distribute your assets, which many include establishing testamentary trusts or using other financial tools. If you do not have significant or complex assets that require legal counsel, you will simply need to decide who will receive your assets and how they will be distributed.